Overview of Fujian Lying in the southeastern coast of China and bordering Zhejiang Province, Jiangxi Province and Guangdong Province, Fujian is facing Taiwan across the Straits and one of the closest mainland provinces to Southeast Asia and Oceania, as well as an important window and base of China for global exchanges. Boasting a long history, Fujian was called the Region of Minyue during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Prefecture of Min-Zhong during Qing Dynasty. In the middle of Tang Dynasty, the post of Fujian Military Commissioner was established, and the province was hereafter called Fujian. The brief name of Fujian, "Min", is derived from Min River, the greatest river within the province. Covering a land area of 121,400 square kilometers and a sea area of 136,000 square kilometers, Fujian governs Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Putian, Longyan, Sanming, Nanping and Ningde (nine municipal cities), as well as 85 subordinated counties, cities and districts (including Jinmen County). By the end of 2005, the total population of Fujian reached 35,350,000 (exclusive of Jinmen and Mazu). As one of the earliest provinces opening to the outside world, Fujian has launched 12 national development zones and special economic zones, bringing about an all-round opening-up configuration. The people of Fujian are famed for their diligence, courage, industry and hospitality. This mountainous province is also renowned for the tradition of starting career in overseas countries, which makes it a famous hometown of overseas Chinese. Geography & Climate Located in the subtropical zone, Fujian has a moderate climate and is abundant rainfall. The mean temperature of 2004 was 15.3-21.9℃, and the average rainfall was 930- 1843mm, making it one of those provinces with the greatest railfall. Located at latitude 23°31’- 28°18’ north, Fujian is close to the Tropic of Cancer, which grants Fujian the typical subtropical climate. Fujian can be divided into Central Asia tropical zone and South Asia tropical zone demarcated by the line connecting Fuzhou, Fuqing, Yongchun, Zhangping and Shanghang. The primary characteristics include: 1) Monsoon climate. The change of climate and four seasons follows the monsoon circulation. 2) Short winter and long summer, abundant thermal resources. The duration of frost-free period is between 250-336 days, and 300 days or more in some regions. This figure is fully comparable to that of Guangdong Province, Guangxi Province and Taiwan, offering Fujian a superior climatic condition. 3) Warm winter and great temperature difference between south and north; cool summer and small temperature difference between south and north; 4) Clearly demarcated rainy season and dry season, with sufficient water resources; 5) Complicated landforms, bringing about diversified climates; 6) Frequent natural disasters: flood, drought, windstorm and frost. The flood mainly refers to rainfall flood and typhoon flood, while the windstorm consists of typhoon, gale and cold air, all bringing about coastal strong wind and intense convective climate. As for drought, there are spring drought, summer drought, autumn drought and winter drought, while the frost can also be divided into late frost, May frost, early frost and deep winter frost. Natural Resources Mineral resources Under the complex geological structure, there are 118 kinds of mineral resources of which the reserves have been proved, including 2 energy mineral resources (blind coal and terrestrial heat), 31 metallic minerals, 82 non-metallic minerals and 1 aqueous mineral resources. There are also extensive reserves of gold, silver, lead, zinc, manganese, kaolin, cement rock, granite, alunite, pyrophyllite and sulfur etc. The reserve volume of limestone hits 700 million tons, which can be used for manufacturing cement for 200 years. The reserve volume of Shoushan Stone ranks top in China, while that of kaolin ranks third. Both the reserve volume and the quality of quartz sand rank top in the country. Maritime resources Boasting a large sea area, Fujian has a coastline extending more than 3,300 kilometers, 1400 large and small islands and 22 large harbors capable of building 10,000-ton deepwater berths. The maritime domain of Fujian is a transitional sea area between East China Sea and South China Sea, and is the shallow sea of subtropical continental shelf with the convergence of cold and warm currents and injection of extensive fresh water. The fertile water quality brings about extensive floating organism and abundant aquatic resources. The total area of available offshore fishing grounds reaches 125,000 square kilometers, in which the total area for breeding of seashell, alga and marine products hits 2,700 square kilometers. With more than 500 fish stocks, Fujian is one of China's major fishery regions. Water resources Rich in water resources, Fujian boasts its densely covered streams. There are 29 water systems and 663 rivers, while the total length of inland rivers hits 13,569 kilometers. Its river density ranks top in China. The theoretic waterpower reserve amounts to 10,460,000 KW, with a possible installed capacity of 7,050,000 KW, ranking top in East China. Forest resources Fujian is one of four major forest regions of China. With abundant forest resources, its forest coverage reaches 6,667,000 hectares, and the total wooded area hits 6,000,000 hectares. The timber reserve amounts to 0.4 billion cubic meters, with timber output ranking top 3 in China. The forest cover rate of 62.9% also ranks first in China. Abounding with tree resources, there are 1,943 species of wood plants, 400 species of timber trees and 140 species of bamboos. Besides providing extensive logs, they are also widely applied in the industry. Administrative Regions 1. Fuzhou Fuzhou, also known as the City of Banyan, is the capital city of Fujian Province, as well as the provincial center of politics, economy, science & technology, education and culture. Lying in the southeastern coast of Fujian and lower reaches of Min River, Fuzhou is located at longitude 110°08'-120°31' east and latitude 25°02'- 26°29' north. The total area of Fuzhou amounts to 12,000 square kilometers, in which the urban area reaches 1043 square kilometers and the built-up area reaches 160 square kilometers. The total population hits 6,600,000, including an urban population of 2,430,000. With a coastline extending 1,137 kilometers and a maritime domain amounting to 12,000 square kilometers, Fuzhou is facing Taiwan across the Straits, while Pingtan Island is only 68 sea miles from Hsinchu, Taiwan and Huangqi Peninsula of Lianjiang County is only 8,000 meters from Matsu. Fuzhou now governs 5 districts (Gulou, Taijiang, Cangshan, Jinan and Mawei), 2 subordinated cities (Fuqing and Changle), 6 counties (Minhou, Lianjiang, Luoyuan, Minqing, Yongtai and Pingtan) and Langqi Economic Zone. 2. Xiamen Xiamen is located at latitude 24°25'- 24°55' north and longitude 117°53'- 118°27' east. Situated in the southeast of Fujian and at the mouth of Jiulong River, it is bordering the flatland of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou and facing Jinmen Islands, Taiwan and Pescadores across the Taiwan Strait. Covering a land area of 1565.09 square kilometers and a maritime domain of 300 square kilometers, the city consists of Xiamen Island, Gulang Island, Tongan and coastal regions along the north shore of Jiulong River. As the principal part of Xiamen, Xiamen Island is 13.7 kilometers long from south to north and 12.5 kilometers wide from east to west. Covering a total area of 128.14 square kilometers, Xiamen Island is the fourth largest island in Fujian. Xiamen governs Siming, Huli, Jimei, Haicang, Tongan and Xiangan. The urban population mainly consists of the Han nationality, as well as over 20 minority nationalities as Hui, Man, Zhuang, She, Miao and Gao-Shan. Owing to its geographical location and historical background, there are extensive returned overseas Chinese, relatives of overseas Chinese, native overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. 3. Quanzhou Located in the southeastern Coast of Fujian, Quanzhou is sited at latitude 24°22'-25°56' north and longitude 117°34'- 119°05' east, and covers an area of 11,220.5 square kilometers. With a total population of 6,546,200, Quanzhou governs 4 districts (Licheng, Fengze, Luojiang and Quangang), 3 subordinated cities (Shishi, Jinjiang and Nan'an) and 5 counties (Huian, Anxi, Yongchun, Dehua and Jinmen), where Min-nan (South Fujian) dialect is the native language. Quanzhou is the starting-point of "Maritime Silk Road", as well as one of the first batch of 24 historical cities listed by the State Council. As early as in Tang Dynasty, the Ci-Tong Port of Quanzhou was one of major four foreign trade ports of China, and it was as well known as the Alexandria Port of Egypt and praised as the Grand Oriental Port during the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty. The city is also known as a famous hometown of numerous overseas Chinese and Taiwan compatriots. Currently, there are more than 6 million overseas Chinese of Quanzhou origin dispersed over 100 countries and regions, as well as 680,000 Hong Kong and Macao compatriots. Among all Taiwan compatriots, there are 9 million compatriots (44.8%) with Quanzhou origin, and it has always been a tradition of numerous overseas Chinese and Taiwan compatriots of Quanzhou origin to assist the development and construction of Quzhou City. 4. Zhangzhou Located in the southeast of Fujian and at longitude 117°-118°east and latitude 23.8°-25°north, Zhangzhou is close to Taiwan Straits and facing Xiamen across the sea. It borders Quanzhou to the east, Longyan to the northwest and Shantou of Guangzhou to the southwest. Covering a total area of 12,600 square kilometers, Zhangzhou governs eight counties (Zhangpu, Yuxiao, Dongshan, Zhaoan, Pinghe, Nanjing, Huaan, Changtai and Longhai City) and two district (Xiangcheng and Longwen).